Pharmacies in Wales to offer free tests

A project called One in Ten has been launched in Wales and will see free tests offered in pharmacies to assess how likely a person is to develop diabetes or have a stroke.

The 14-day campaign is aiming to identify the 10% of the population in Wales who have a higher risk of diabetes or stroke.

Every year 11,000 people in Wales have a stroke and according to Diabetes UK Cymru, about 350,000 people are not aware they have an increased danger of developing type 2 diabetes.

Seven Welsh health boards, Diabetes UK Cymru, Community Pharmacy Wales, the Welsh government's Public Health Wales Unit and the Stoke Association are all collaborating on the project.

Pharmacists will assess patients in order to identify danger signs including smoking and obesity.

People who are at risk will be issued with a letter to give to their GP or told to talk to their doctor about the conditions.

Dai Williams, director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: "There are an estimated 350,000 people in Wales unaware that they run a high risk of getting Type 2 diabetes."

"If this campaign can find even a fraction of those people, it will be worthwhile because like stroke, diabetes is heavily related to lifestyle. If you know your risk, you can take steps for a healthier future."